Not Salman Khan, father Salim was the first choice for 'Bajirao Mastani'?

Salman Khan's father Salim was reportedly approached for the role of Bajirao.

Dec 21, 2015 16:31 IST

After "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam", Sanjay Leela Bhansali reportedly wanted to cast Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in his dream project, "Bajirao Mastani". But things didn't work out due to Salman and Aishwarya's equation.

Thus, after a decade, the film was released with Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone playing the lead roles.

Though both the actors did a commendable job with their characters, people would have loved it more had it featured Salman and Aishwarya.

On the other hand, the latest buzz is that before Salman, the role was offered to his father Salim Khan.

Salim Khan was offered the role of Bajirao, but in the 50's. Before Bhansali, there have been several filmmakers who wanted to make a film based on the love story of Peshwa Bajirao and Mastani.

In fact, there was a film titled "Mastani" in1995, which was directed by Dhirubhai Desai and starred Agha, Manhar Desai and Nigar Sultana.

Salman's father, writer Salim Khan, was reportedly approached by Vishram Bedekar to play the role of Bajirao in the 1950s.

"Before Vishram approached me, I had done a couple of small roles. He couldn't engage any big star to act in his film as the actor playing Bajirao had to shave his hair completely. I was a newcomer. I would have cut my head for the role! It was a big break for me so I met them for an interview for the role," Salim told DNA.

"In those days, there were no auditions. I went to Vishram's Worli residence. He liked me and offered me the main lead. The script had not been finalised neither were the heroines. As Vishram was making a proposal, it turned out to be an expensive film, being a costume period drama, which wouldn't recover the cost with a newcomer playing the Bajirao, so the idea was dropped," he further added.

However, later, Salim Khan appeared in several odd films, before giving it up to pursue scriptwriting.

Meanwhile, Bhansali's "Bajirao Mastani" has garnered immense appreciation from all quarters. From the actors' brilliant performance to the amazing sets, the period drama has captured millions of hearts.